The Empress Dowager held Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her eyes closed, and she muttered incantations on her aged face. The Empress Dowager stood beside her, following closely behind, but occasionally glancing at Xu Lejin out of the corner of her eye.
Xu Lejin lowered her head and knelt on the prayer mat.
A quarter of an hour later, the Empress Dowager looked at Xu Lejin with her cloudy eyes and said in a deep voice, "I have heard that Consort Tong was given the power to assist in managing the six palaces, which was suggested to the Emperor by Consort Yu."
"I had no idea that Consort Yu and Consort Tong had become so close?"
With a sudden jolt, Xu Lejin timidly raised her head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am merely sharing the Emperor's burdens, and at the same time, protecting myself."
The Empress Dowager stared sharply at Xu Lejin.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Lejin forced herself to speak, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Consort Zhao has been targeting me. The death of Consort Hesheli had nothing to do with me, but Consort Zhao has been trying to frame me."
"I had no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure to protect myself."
The Empress Dowager gave Xu Lejin a meaningful look and remained silent.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then continued, "This concubine knows her mistake. She should not have interfered in matters of palace power and should not have spoken to the Emperor. Please punish her, Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager."
"Um."
The Empress Dowager responded.
Immediately afterwards, the Empress Dowager spoke in a deep voice, "You do deserve punishment, but considering that you are the mother of the sixth prince, the eighth princess, and the ninth princess, the Empress Dowager and I will punish you by making you copy the 'Palace Rules' ten times as a warning to others."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."
Xu Lejin respectfully agreed.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager then inquired about the situation of Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Una Xi. They were relieved to learn that Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Una Xi were safe and sound in the Prince's residence.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and said with an air of wisdom, "Consort Yu is young and has given birth to the sixth prince, the eighth princess, and the ninth princess more than two years ago. It is time for her to bear another child for the emperor."
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I am pregnant and about a month along. Since it is still early in the pregnancy, I will report to the Emperor and Consort Zhao after my pulse becomes clear in a few days."
The Empress Dowager was delighted upon hearing this and looked intently at Xu Lejin.
"really?"
Xu Lejin smiled gently and said, "The Imperial Physician Xu from the Imperial Hospital examined my pulse the other day and told me that I am very likely pregnant."
"Okay, okay."
The Empress Dowager said "good" three times in a row. After thinking for a moment, she continued, "Since Consort Yu is pregnant, let's change the 'palace rules' from ten times to one time!"
“The ‘palace rules’ are only for restraining the concubines in the harem, and Consort Yu should copy them carefully.”
Xu Lejin respectfully accepted and withdrew from Cining Palace.
In the Cining Palace, the Grand Empress Dowager smiled and said to the Empress Dowager, "Consort Yu is very fortunate, and now she is pregnant again. The Emperor has few sons, and I hope that Consort Yu's child and Lady Ma's child will both be sons."
"What the Empress Dowager says is very true."
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly and said softly, "I have heard that Consort Ma Jia has had an exceptionally difficult pregnancy. She has been bedridden since the beginning of her pregnancy and has been taking medicine to prevent miscarriage every day. Now, at seven months pregnant, she is about the same size as a normal five-month pregnant woman."
"Your Majesty, I must say something I shouldn't, but I'm afraid Consort Ma's pregnancy is not going well."
He pondered for a long time.
The Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "I have consulted the imperial physician who is protecting Lady Ma's pregnancy. Although she has given birth frequently and is suffering from severe exhaustion, and the fetus is small in the womb, it can be raised to adulthood with careful care."
"yes."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly.
The news that Xu Lejin was pregnant again spread throughout the entire East and West Six Palaces five days later. Consort Zhao and Consort Tong were so angry that they smashed many precious porcelain ornaments.
Consort Zhao's eyes were bloodshot and her gaze was sinister. "You wretch, you wretch! That wretch Yu Pin already has a prince and two princesses, and now she's pregnant again."
"As is the case with Consort Ma Jia, so is the case with Consort Yu. One after another, the concubines in the harem are getting pregnant, but what about me?"
Consort Zhao slumped into a chair, her face filled with sorrow.
Caiyue gently comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu is currently pregnant, but it's only been a little over a month. It's still uncertain whether the imperial child will be born. Even if it is born, it may not be a prince."
“Consort Ma gave birth to three daughters in a row. Although Consort Yu was lucky before, giving birth to one prince and two princesses, she may not be so lucky this time.”
After a pause, Caiyue continued speaking.
"As for Consort Ma Jia, she has given birth one after another, which has damaged her health. The baby is weak in the womb. Even if it is born safely, it will be weak and will need to take medicine constantly."
After pondering for a long time, Consort Zhao nodded.
mid-December
With Lianzhi and Ruhua carefully attending to her, Xu Lejin strolled in the Imperial Garden. As she passed near the Thousand Carp Pond, she happened to meet Consort Xiuqin, who was also wearing a cloak and carrying a hand warmer.
"May Consort Yu be well and blessed."
Consort Xiuqin curtsied to Xu Lejin, her head slightly lowered. Her fair and slender neck, like white jade, shone brightly in the sunlight.
Xu Lejin smiled and told Consort Xiuqin to get up.
"The snow makes travel difficult and the roads slippery. Consort Xiuqin is in poor health. Why isn't she resting properly in the East Warm Pavilion of Chengqian Palace? Although there are winter plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden that are about to bloom, it is freezing cold."
Looking towards the plum blossom buds on the branches not far away, Xu Lejin spoke softly.
Consort Xiuqin, with a gentle expression, said softly, "Yes, this humble servant will follow Consort Yu's instructions and will return to Chengqian Palace now."
Half an hour later
Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace, where the burning charcoal fire quickly dispelled the chill from her body.
Ru Hua spoke softly, "This winter is really cold. It's only afternoon, but the cold wind is howling outside, stinging my cheeks."
Xu Lejin looked up at Ruhua, whose face was flushed from the cold, and burst out laughing.
After laughing, Xu Lejin took out her own money and ordered Ziwu to go to the imperial kitchen to cook a pot of strong ginger soup to warm the palace maids and eunuchs in Yikun Palace.
At this moment, the palace maid Zhulan entered the hall, her nose red from the cold. "Your Majesty, Consort Xiuqin was taking a walk in the Imperial Garden when she accidentally fell into the Thousand Carp Pond..."
How could that be?
Xu Lejin looked surprised, thinking to herself that Consort Xiuqin had already returned to Chengqian Palace.
How did I end up falling into the Thousand Carp Pond?
After pondering for a moment, Xu Lejin instructed Zhulan to continue inquiring about Consort Xiuqin's situation. Half an hour later, Zhulan returned with the news that Consort Xiuqin had already passed away.
With a deep sigh, Xu Lejin murmured, "Consort Xiuqin is also a pitiful person. Ziwu, prepare a funeral rite and send it to Chengqian Palace on my behalf."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ziwu respectfully agreed.
Xu Lejin's eyelids twitched, and she thought to herself, "Is there going to be trouble coming my way again?"
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